Add a Comment

Comment by Djay Buddha AFC Radio on October 9, 2009 at 8:40

Hi Grace I have to agree 100% with you The majors and some indie labels have been ripping musicians and fans off for too long.. I run The Artistic freedom collective where artists (500 so far) are encouraged and helped to self release there music.. We also run festivals and music weekends Radio station etc all for the love of music..

Comment by John S. James on October 9, 2009 at 2:58

Re "working out a wonderful new way for music lovers to enjoy music for free" while artists get paid, I've developed a free and open-source design for "mass sponsorship". If artists make a song available this way, then anyone in the world who can pay online can sponsor dozens, hundreds, or any number of prepaid downloads (or streamings) of a particular song, or collection; the sponsor gets to include a personal message (about almost anything) that goes to everyone who downloads a copy that sponsor paid for.

Then anyone online can click online can download a free copy, just like today (with no need for any account, registration, log in, or other preliminaries) -- but unlike today, the free downloading instantly pays the artist, from a sponsorship. The links that permit both free downloads and new sponsorships can be distributed to the sponsor's own friends (to share with friends of friends), to other pre-existing social networks, or to anyone by posting on a website. Since end users can get legitimate free copies that do pay the artist, there should be little need for either piracy or DRM.

What lets this work easily is something basically new: letting online financial accounts reproduce by creating "children" accounts, grandchildren, and family trees. A new account can inherit dozens or hundreds of settings, options, and services from its parent. Special "public accounts" can circulate freely by ordinary email, as "smart URLs" that don't need intrusive security. Each smart URL can hold any number of sponsorships, and manage them separately.

No software has been written yet. I'm putting the design idea on the table for public discussion; it's at www.RepliCounts.org. The site is still rough but the design is there, and a sharp software team could implement and use it without anything more from me. Of course I'm available and would like to help projects working for public benefit. I have no IP claims, so no one needs my permission (or any permission so far as I know) to use these ideas, for nonprofit or commercial purposes.

Take a look, and let me know if you want to keep in touch.

Comment by Brian Barry on October 8, 2009 at 19:38

My partner's fave group are Wondermints, some of the guys who play with Brian Wilson's live band. I think they have three albums out. She has over 30 cd's of theirs. Boots do no harm at all. I think she'll be buying their next legit release!

Comment by Doug Daigle on October 8, 2009 at 14:52

Re:
Now let’s get on with working out a wonderful new way for music lovers to enjoy music for free or for a small subscription that makes it legal and easy to hear ANYTHING and allows the artist to reap the rewards of such freedom of access. Viva la revolution!

Hi Grace!
I am Doug, co-founder of Radiolicious, the leading iPhone and Blackberry radio application. After reading your post and a news report sent from an employee, I am writing to say that I completely agree with your thoughts. I am upset about how this is being handled, however I am inspired by your desire to seek alternatives.

In response to this, I would like to extend an offer to create the Edwyn Collins Radio Station on Radiolicious at no cost. Only Edwyn's music all the time. I believe Radiolicious is the wonderful new way for listeners to enjoy music for free, yet it also allows listeners to purchase songs therefore rewarding the artist. It currently contains the largest selection of artist only radio. I would be thrilled to add Edwyn's station!

Please feel free to contact me by phone at 337-291-7579 or email doug@radiolicious.fm.

more info at www.radiolicious.fm

Sincerely,
Doug Daigle
Viva la revolution!

Comment by Paul E on October 7, 2009 at 20:44

It was good to hear the ridiculous legal issues re: 'A Girl Like You' mentioned in the news on BBC radio 6 this evening..

Comment by Philip on October 5, 2009 at 12:43

Fantastic, Grace. Completely agree.

Comment by Matt on October 3, 2009 at 7:46

Well said Grace. It's fantastic Edwyn owns most of his own recordings, must have had a good manager eh?

Comment by Frankie on October 2, 2009 at 12:18

Hi Grace - you get a (positive) mention for this on the always excellent
No Rock N Roll Fun
music news blog

Comment by the vinyl villain on October 1, 2009 at 22:15

Brilliantly written. Means a lot to bloggers who are being bullied by the majors with all sorts of nonsensical claims.

Thanks.

I've left a wee tribute to you over at my place

http://thevinylvillain.blogspot.com/2009/10/speaking-words-of-wisdom.html

I Hope you dont mind the blatant plug. Nor the theft of the photo used in the piece!